Turntable for cranes or the like



Dec. 19, 1944. R. o. BILLINGS TURNTABLE FOR CRANES OR THE LIKE Filed July 12, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f7 INVEZTOR.

Dec. 19, 1944. R. o. BILLINGS TURNTABLE FOR CRANES OR THE LIKE Filed July 12, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -l illilli 1.11 I

INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 19, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TURNTABLE FOR CRANES OR THE LIKE Roy 0. Billings, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application July 12, 1943, Serial No. 494,335

Claims.

This invention relates to improvement in turntables for cranes or the like. The present invention is particularly adapted for use in relatively small truck cranes of the type shown in my pending application, Serial No. 457,052, filed September 2, 1942, and relates to an improved arrangement for causing rotation of the turntable and resulting swinging movement of the boom. Features of this invention may, however, be advantageously employed in connection with large cranes and in other devices utilizing turntables.

Heretofore it has been common practice to cause rotation of a boom supporting turntable by the use of a ring gear co-acting with a pinion. The present invention is constructed to cause operation of the turntable by a simplified and improved construction.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a construction for use in a craneor the like wherein the rotatable turntable is cable operated.

A further object of the invention is' to provide a device as above described wherein the pull on the turntable cable i effected by hydraulically operated mechanism.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide in a device of the class described, a fixed pulley, a turntable rotatable on the axis of said pulley, cable means having one end co-operating with said pulley and having its other end anchored to the turntable, and means such as an hydraulic ram on the turntable for exerting a pull on an intermedate portion of the cable to cause rotation of the turntable.

A still further object of the invention is to provide two sets of cable operating mechanisms which cooperate with each other to permit selective rotation of the turntable in either direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction, as above described, wherein the hydraulic pump may be located on the truck frame to be driven by the motor of said truck and wherein means is provided for conducting hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic rams on the turn table without interfering with the rotation of the latter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction wherein the controls for rotating movement may be located on the turntable.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved turntable for cranes or the like and all its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the rear end of a truck crane including the improved turntable and operating mechanism therefor;

Fig. 2 is a partially schematic top view of the rear portion of the truck indicating the operating mechanism on the turntable; and

Fi 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken through the turntable center pin.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral I0 designates the rear portion of the chassis of a relatively small size truck, which truck is equipped with rear wheels II and I2.

Mounted on top of the portion Ill, and connected thereto by means of bolts I3, or other at I8. Above the bearing I8 the center pin is of.

enlarged diameter to provide an annular shoulder I9. This shoulder limits the downward movement of the center pin I I in the bearing I6. A nut 20 is threaded on the lower end of the center pin to engage the lower end of the bearing I6 and anchor the center pin rigidly in position.

The turntable 2| has its top formed with an I opening 22. Secured to the lower surface of the top of the turntable and projecting downwardly therefrom is a collar 23 formed with oppositely disposed slots 24. These slots extend from the upper ed e of the collar downwardy and terminate short of the lower edge of the collar 23. Projecting from the outer side of the collar below the slots 24 are angle members 25.

A bearing member 26, preferablyprovided with a bushing 21, is rotatable around an intermediate portion of the center pin H, as shown in Fig. 3. Studs 28, which have their inner ends rigidly secured to the outside of the bearing 26, project in opposite directions therefrom and through the slots 24 of the collar 23. The outer ends of the studs 28 are firmly anchored by mean of U- bolts 29 to the angles 25. The bearing 26 fits loosely in the hole 22 of the turntable. Thus, by inserting a shim 25' beneath one or the other of the projecting ends of the studs 28, the hearing 26 may be angled somewhat relative to the turntable to compensate for any inequalities in the distribution of the load on the turntable. At the same time it is apparent that the bearing 26 is rigidly connected to the turntable through the structure just described. The turntable, therefore, is rotatable around the fixed center pin ll. During such rotation the turntable may be additionally supported by means of rollers 30 (see Fig. l) which depend from the lower surface of the top of the turntable and which ride on a ring 3! carried by the top of the auxiliary frame l4.

It is apparent from Fig. 3 that a portion of the center pin ll projects above the upper surface of the turntable. Keyed to this projecting portion of the center pin is a. pulley 32 having peripheral grooves 33 and 34. Thus the pulley and center pin are firmly supportedagainst rotation on the frame portion H of the truck while the turntable is rotatable around the fixed center pin beneath the pulley.

Extending upwardly from the turntable and supported at their lower ends thereon are spaced tracks 35. Supporting arms 33, connected at their upper ends to the tracks 35, are connectable at their lower ends to the turntable to additionally support the tracks. A boom 31, which is suitably supported for angular movement in a vertical plane, is movable from the full line position of Fig. l to the dot-and-dash line position therein. During such movement the inner end of the boom is suitably guided by the tracks 35. The boom may be equipped with a. load line cable 31' which is guided over a sheave 38 at the inner end of the boom. Any suitable mechanism may be employed for moving the boom from the full line position of Fig. 1 to the dot-and-dash line position, and any suitable mechanism may be used for raising and lowering the load line 31. It is, however, preferred to utilize hydraulically actuated cables, as shown and described in my pending application Serial No. 457,052, filed September 2, 1942.

Extending along one of the tracks 35 is an hydraulic ram 39, and extending along the other track 35 is an hydraulic ram 49. The ram cylinders are anchored at their lower ends to the turntable as at 4| and are connected at their upper ends to the tracks as at 42. The ram 39 is equipped with an outwardly movable piston rod 43 having a sheave 44 on its outer end. The other ram 40 is equipped with a similar piston rod 45 having a sheave 45 at its outer end.

A cable 41 has one end anchored to the bracket 42. This cable passes over the sheave 44, then downwardly toward the turntable, around a, vertical sheave 48 supported on the turntable, around a horizontal sheave 49 sup ported on the turntable and then around the center pulley 32. The lower end of the cable 41 is anchored to the ulley 32 as at 50 (see Fig. 2). The cable 41 co-acts with the pulley groove 34 as shown in Fig. 3. When the ram 39 is in its retracted condition, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the cable 41 is wrapped around the pulley 32 approximately one and a quarter times.

On the other side of the turntablethere is a cable which is anchored to the bracket 42, as shown in Fig. 2. This cable extends around the sheave 43 carried by the ram piston 45, then downwardly toward the turntable, around a vertical sheave 52 mounted on the turntable. around a horizontal sheave 53 mounted on the turntable and then in a reverse direction to the center pulley 32. The lower end of the cable 51 is anchored to the pulley 32 as at 54. When the ram 40 is in extended condition the cable 5| is wrapped around the pulley 32 for only a quarter of a turn, as shown in Fig. 2.

Driven preferably by a power take-01f 55 leading from the motor of the truck is an hydraulic pump 56. This pump may be mounted on the auxiliary frame I4, as shown in Fig. 2. This pump is adapted to force hydraulic fluid under pressure outwardly through the conduit 51. The conduit 51 extends through the top of the auxiliary frame [4 and then beneath said frame to the center pin. A flexible conduit 58 then extends upwardly through the center pin to the top of the turntable where it connects with a control valve 59. From the control .valve one hydraulic line 69 leads to the hydraulic ram 49, another conduit 6| leads to the hydraulic ram 39, and another conduit 62, which is flexible, leads back through the center pin to the oil reservoir 63. The oil reservoir is connected with the pump by a conduit 64.

A control handle 65 for the valve 59 is adapted to move the valve to one of a number of selected positions. In one position of the valve, hydraulic fluid from the pump flowing through the lines 51 and 58 is adapted to flow through the line 6| leading to the ram 39. This will cause the ram 39 to be extended. In this same position of the valve the line 69 leading from the ram 40 is placed in communication with the return line 62. Thus, as oil is forced out of the cylinder 40, this oil will be returned to the reservoir. In the other position of the valve 59, the pump line 58 is connected to the line 60 leading to the cylinder 40. This will cause extension of the piston rod in the cylinder 40. In this same position of the valve the line 8|, connected to the cylinder 39, is connected to the return line 62 so that hydraulic fluid exhausted from the cylinder 39 can be returned to the reservoir. A third position for the valve 59 may be arranged to hold the rams in a desired operating position.

In operating the improved device the operator may stand on the turntable and manipulate the handle 65 for the control valve 59. At the same time other control levers 66 (see Fig. 1) may be manipulated. These levers may initiate the operation of various other movements which form no part of the subject matter of the present application. For example, one of the levers 66 may control the tilting movement of the boom, another lever 66 may control the load line 31, and another lever 66 may control the steering of the vehicle. These various operations are fully shown and described in my pending application Serial No. 457,052, filed Septemher 2, 1942.

If it is desired to cause the turntable 2| to rotate in a clockwise direction, referring to Fig. 2, then the operator will shift the lever 65 to such a. position that oil under pressure from the lines 51 and 58 flows into the line 6| leading to the cylinder 39. This will cause extension of the ram 39 and upward movement of the sheave 44. As the sheave 44 moves upwardly, it will exert a pull on the cable 41. However, inasmuch as the center pulley 32 is non-rotatable, the net result is that the turntable will start rotating in a clockwise direction around the pulley in order to supply cable to the outwardly moving sheave 44. The cable arrangement is such that rotation may continue for approximately 360.

wise direction it may then be returned to its starting position by causing rotation in a counterclockwise direction. At the start of this procedure the parts are in the reverse position from that shown in Fig. 2 and the valve 59 must be set to cause fluid from the pump to be forced into the cylinder 40. This will cause extensionof the piston rod 45 and eventual return of the parts to the position of Fig. 2. The turntable may, of course.

be partially rotated in either direction in order to bring the crane to a desired position and the control valve 59 may be constructed to lock the turn table in any position of partial or complete rotation.

From the above it is apparent that turntable operating mechanism has been provided which completely eliminates the use of gears. It is also apparent that the mechanism is simple in construction and yet extremely powerful because of the use of the hydraulic rams. The operating cables are all exposed and can therefore be quickly replaced should there be a break in one of the cables while the crane is being used. Due to the use of the hollow center pin and the flexible hydraulic lines, there is no interference when the turntable is rotated, and the hydraulic pump and reservoir may be conveniently located on the frame of the truck rather than on the turntable. Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and all of such changes are contemplated as may come within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a crane or the like, having a supporting frame, a pulley non-rotatably fixed to said frame, a turntable mounted on said frame for rotation with respect to the frame and ulley, a cable having one end anchored to the turntable on one side of said pulley and having a portion near its other end wrapped in one direction on said pulley, a second cable having one end anchored to the turntable on the opposite side of the pulley from the point of anchoring the corresponding end of the first cable, said second cable having a portion wrapped on the pulley in a reverse direction from the direction in which the first cable is wrapped, means for exerting a pull on a portion of the first cable to cause rotation of the turntable in one direction, and. means for exerting a pull on a portion of the second cable to cause rotation of the turntable in the opposite direction.

2. In a crane or the like, having a supporting frame, a pulley non-rotatably fixed to said frame, a turntable mounted on said frame for rotation with respect to the frame and pulley, a cable hav-. ing one end anchored to the turntable on one side of said pulley and having a portion near its other end wrapped in one direction on said pulley, a second cable having one end anchored to the turntable on the opposite side of the pulley from the point of anchoring the corresponding end of the first cable, said second cable having a portion wrapped on the pulley in a reverse direction from the direction in which the first cable is wrapped, means including an hydraulic ram connected to the turntable and positioned on one side of the pulley for exerting a pull on a portion of the first cable to cause rotation of the turntable in one direction, and means including an hydraulic ram connected to the turntable and positioned on the opposite side of the pulley for exerting a pull on a portion of the second cable to cause rotation of the turntable in the opposite direction and to cause retraction of the first hydraulic ram.

3. In a crane or the like, a supporting vehicle having a frame, a center pin extending upwardly from said frame, a turntable rotatable on said center pin, a pulley fixed to the center pin above said turntable, cable means co-acting with said pulley and turntable for causing rotation of the turntable around said center pin when a pull is exerted on a portion of said cable, and means for effecting said pull on the cable.

4. In a crane or the like, a supporting vehicle having a frame, a tubular center pin extending upwardly from said frame, a turntable rotatable on said center pin, a pulley fixed to the center pin above said turntable, cable means co-acting with said pulley and turntable for causing rotation of the turntable around said pulley when a pull is exerted on a portion of said cable, means including an hydraulic ram on the turntable for effecting a pull on said cable, an hydraulic pump mounted on the vehicle frame, and a flexible conduit ex- \tending through said tubular center pin for conducting fiuid under pressure from said pump to said hydraulic ram.

5. In acrane or the like, a supporting vehicle having a frame, a center pin extending upwardly from said frame, a turntable having a center pin opening,-a collar surrounding said opening and depending from the turntable and rigidly connected thereto, a bearing member through which the center pin is journaled positioned within said collar, and means for rigidly anchoring said bearing member to said collar to provide for maintaining the hearing at a selected angle with respect to the turntable.

6. In a crane or the like having a supporting frame, a pulley non-rotatably fixed to said frame, a turntable mounted on said frame for rotation with respect to the frame and pulley, a cable having one end anchored to the turntable and having a portion near its other end wrapped in one direction on said pulley with said end secured to the pulley, a second cable having one end anchored to the turntable and having a portion wrapped on the pulley in a reverse direction from the direction in which the first cable is wrapped, the other end of said second cable being secured to the pulley, means for exerting a pull on a portion of the first cable to cause rotation of the turntable in one direction, and means for exerting a pull on a portion of the second cable to cause rotation of the turntable in the opposite direction.

7. In a crane or the like having a supporting frame, a pulley non-rotatably fixed to said frame, a turntable mounted on said frame for rotation with respect to the frame and pulley, a cable having one end anchored to the turntable and having a portion near its other end wrapped in one direction on said pulley with said end secured to the pulley, a second cable having one end anchored to the turntable and having a portion wrapped on the pulley in a reverse direction from the direction in which the first cable is wrapped, the other end of said second cable being secured to the pulley, means including an hydraulic ram connected to the turntable for exerting a pull on a portion of the first cable to cause rotation of the turntable in one direction, and means including an hydraulic ram connected to the turntable for exerting a pull on a portion of the second cable to cause rotation of the turntable in the opposite direction and to cause retraction of the first hydraulic ram.

8. In a crane or the like, a supporting vehicle having a. frame, a tubular center pin extending upwardly from said frame, a turntable rotatable on said center pin, a pulley fixed to the center pin adjacent said turntable, cable means coacting with said pulley and turntable for causing rotation of the turntable around said pulley when a pull is exerted on'a portion of said cable, means including an hydraulic ram on the turntable for effecting a pull on said cable, an hydraulic pump mounted on the vehicle frame, a flexible conduit extending through said tubular center pin for conducting fluid under pressure from said pump to said hydraulic ram, and a control for said ram located on the turntable.

9. In a crane or the like having a supporting frame, a pulley non-rotatably fixed to said frame,

a turntable mounted on the frame for rotation with respect to the frame and pulley, two hydraulic rams each connected at one end to the turntable and positioned to be extendible in an upward direction from the turntable, a cable having one end anchored with respect to the tumtable and then extending over the extendible por tion of the ram and then downwardly, a first guiding sheave mounted on a horizontal axis on 10 selected direction.

10. In a crane or the like having a supporting frame, a pulley non-rotatably fixed to said frame, a turntable mounted on the frame for rotation with respect to the frame and pulley, two hydrau- 1:; lie rams each connected at one end to the turntable and positioned to be extendible in an=upward direction from the turntable, a cable for each ram, each cable having one end anchored with respect to the turntable and then extend- 20 ing over the extendible portion of the ram and then downwardly, guiding sheave means for each cable mounted on the turntable around which the cable is guided, one of said cables being wrapped in one direction on the non-rotatable 25 pulley and secured thereto, and the other cable being wrapped in the opposite direction on the non-rotatable pulley and secured thereto, said rams being operable in opposing directions to cause rotation of the turntable in a selected 80 direction.

ROY O. BILLINGS. 

